Documenting Extracurricular Activities

An extracurricular course, as defined by Florida Statute 1003.01, is any school-authorized or education-related activity occurring during or outside the regular instructional school day. Extracurricular courses may include, but are not limited to, physical education, fine arts, performing arts, career education, and courses that may result in college credit. Please see the course descriptions listed at CPALMS.org for course requirements and additional information.

A high school credit, as defined in Florida Statute 1003.436, is a minimum of 135 hours of bona fide instruction in a designated course of study that contains student performance standards. The hourly requirements for one-half credit is a minimum of 67.5 hours of bona fide instruction (one-half the hourly requirements for one credit). To find out the maximum credit awarded for a particular course and to verify that a course meets the initial eligibility requirements for a Bright Futures Scholarship, please see the Bright Futures Course Table.

In order to receive credit for an extracurricular course, students must earn a passing grade. When determining your child's grade, consider your child's attendance, knowledge, participation, practice, performance, and any other aspect of your child's learning experience in addition to completed assignments and assessments (if any). In accordance with Florida Statute 1003.437, please follow the grading system below to assign the appropriate letter grade.

Grade

Percentage

Definition

A

90–100%

Outstanding Progress

B

80–89%

Above Average Progress

C

70–79%

Average Progress

D

60–69%

Lowest Acceptable Progress

Properly documenting extracurricular activities for high school credit is important. If your child's extracurricular courses are not documented on official transcripts, you will need to keep a detailed log of when and how long your child participates in an extracurricular activity. Keep a detailed record of lesson times, outings, recitals, performances, practices, field trips, classes attended, assignments completed, and anything else related to the activity. Students must meet the minimum hourly requirements and earn a passing grade to receive high school credit.

Since many colleges and universities require applicants who complete a home school program or graduate from a non-accredited high school to submit portfolios to be considered for admission, we recommend you keep an organized portfolio further documenting your child's activities. This should include time logs, programs, brochures, photos, samples of work, awards, achievements, a record of any resources and curricula used, and anything else that documents your child's learning experiences.

Documenting Extracurricular Courses and Grades

Extracurricular courses not otherwise documented on transcripts may be documented as follows:

The supervisor of an organization or a professional instructor may provide documentation on the organization's or instructor's letterhead verifying participation and progress in the extracurricular activity. A summary of what was learned and the total time spent on the activity must also be included. A parent or guardian may assign the final grade.

R.O.T.C.

Completion of 2 years in a Reserve Officer Training Corps class, a significant component of which is drills.

Health Opportunities through Physical Education (HOPE)

1 credit in physical education OR 1 elective credit

Successful completion of this course will meet the one credit graduation requirement for physical education with the integration of health topics.

Fitness Lifestyle Design

1/2 credit in physical education*** OR 1/2 elective credit

Personal Fitness

1/2 credit in physical education*** OR 1/2 elective credit

*To satisfy the personal fitness requirement and complete the one credit in physical education, students must successfully complete Personal Fitness.

**To satisfy the personal fitness requirement and complete the graduation requirement for physical education, students must successfully complete Personal Fitness. Students will earn a total of 1.5 credits in physical education.

***Successful completion of both Fitness Lifestyle Design and Personal Fitness will meet the one credit graduation requirement for physical education with integration of health topics.

Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Practical Arts, and Speech and Debate*

Fine Arts (a/k/a Visual Arts)

1/2 to 1 credit in performing fine arts OR 1/2 to 1 elective credit

Includes, but is not limited to, drawing, graphic arts, painting, photography, and sculpture.

Practical Arts

See the Practical Arts Courses Meeting Graduation Requirements file found at the bottom of the applicable Course Code Directory Information page.

Speech and Debate

1/2 to 1 credit performing fine arts OR 1/2 to 1 elective credit

*Courses should incorporate artistic content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and imagination.

The above course list is NOT exhaustive. If your child participates in a physical or educational activity which is not included above, please contact us to see if it will qualify for high school credit.